ADDRESS 


DELIVERED  BY 


Comrade  I  V.  RANDOLPH 


BEFORE 


R.  E.  Lee  Camp,  No.  1,  C  V. 


December  3,  1886. 


Printed  by  Resolution  of  the  Camp. 


RICHMOND,  VA.: 

JOHNS  &  CO.,  STEAM  BOOK  AND  JOB  PRINTERS. 

1887. 


ABJDRESS 


DELIVERED  BY 


Comrade  £  V.  RANDOLPH 


BEFORE 


R.  E.  Lee  Camp,  No.  1,  C  V, 


December  3,  1886. 


Printed  by  Resolution  of  the  Camp. 


RICHMOND,  VA.: 
JOHNS  &,  CO.,  STEAM  BOOK  AND  JOB  PRINTERS. 

I8S7. 


SUBJECT. 
"Origin,  Growth  and  Present  Condition  of  R.  E.  Lee  Camp." 


OCCASION. 
The  opening  of  the  new  R.  E.  Lee  Camp  Hall. 

After  the  routine  business  of  the  Camp  had  been  finished,  Commander 
Murphy  introduced  Comrade  Randolph,  the  orator  of  the  evening,  who 
delivered  the  following  address. 


Southern  Pamphlets 

Rare  Book  Collection 

UNC-Chaoel  Hill 


598248 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


http://www.archive.org/details/addressdeliveredrand 


.a.:d;d:r,:ess. 


Commander  and  Comrades  of  R.  E.  Lee  Camp : 

I  was  much  surprised  to  learn  a  few  days  ago  that 
by  unanimous  resolution  of  this  Camp  the  honor  had  been 
conferred  on  me  of  delivering  an  address  before  you  to- 
night, the  occasion  being  the  dedication  of  our  new  hall. 
I  fear  the  mover  of  the  resolution  has  allowed  his  personal 
friendship  for  the  man  to  warp  his  better  judgment;  for 
certainly  there  are  many  members  of  the  Camp  who,  more 
gifted  by  nature,  could  do  the  subject  greater  justice  than 
I  can,  for  no  matter  what  else  I  may  have  claimed  to  be,  I 
certainly  never  claimed  to  be  an  orator. 

But,  sir,  when  J  entered  R,  E.  Lee  Camp  in  its  early  days, 
I  did  so  with  the  determination  to  do  my  duty  to  the  best 
of  my  ability,  feeling  that  I  could  and  would  be  of  some 
service  to  my  fellow  man.  The  spirit  that  caused  me  to 
take  an  active  part  in  your  organization  was  the  same  that 
prompted  me,  when  at  fifteen  years  of  age,  to  throw  aside 
my  school  books  and  enlist  in  the  Confederate  army, 
determined  to  do  my  duty  to  my  native  State  with  all  my 
soul  and  strength. 

The  subject  for  this  address,  as  outlined  in  your  resolu- 
tion, is  the  "  Origin,  Growth  and  Present  Condition  of  R. 
E.  Lee  Camp,  No.  1,  Confederate  Veterans,"  and  certainly 
no  more  fit  subject  could  have  been  selected. 

To  give  a  proper  history  of  the  origin  of  Lee  Camp, 
it  is  necessary  for  me  to  go  back  to  1860— a  year  the  events 
of  which  shaped  the  future  of  our  country.  When  the 
statesmen  of  the  country,  returning  from  the  "  halls  of 
Congress,"  told  the  people  that  all  efforts  to  settle  the  vexed 


old  veterans  find  their  way  to  tlie  almshouses,  there  to  die 
in  want  and  be  buried  in  pauper's  graves. 

But  this  was  not  to  be  so  always,  for  there  met  by  chance 
in  March,  1883,  seven  old  soldiers,  separated  for  years  in 
the  different  avocations  of  life,  and  in  talking  over  former 
days  of  the  war,  the  names  of  old  comrades  came  to  mind, 
and  as  name  after  name  was  mentioned,  a  large  number 
were  found  to  be  in  want  and  suffering.  Then  that  spirit 
of  charity  born  of  dangers  and  hardships  sprang  up  in 
their  hearts,  and  they  said  surely,  surely  something  can  be 
done,  something  must  and  shall  be  done  to  put  these  old 
friends  at  least  above  the  pangs  of  hunger  and  suffering. 
With  this  determination  a  notice  was  put  in  the  daily  pa- 
pers calling  on  all  Confederate  soldiers  in  Richmond  to 
meet,  organize  and  start  a  soldiers'  home,  humble  though 
it  might  be,  but  still  a  soldiers'  home.  On  April  18,  1883, 
thirty-eight  veterans  met  and  organized  E.  E  Lee  Camp, 
No.  1,  Confederate  Veterans,  ('apt.  Chas  U.  Williams  was 
its  first  commander;  Col.  W.  C.  Carrington  was  its  second 
commander;  Gen.  Jno.  R.  Cooke  was  its  third  commander, 
and  Col.  Jno.  Murphy  is  its  fourth  and  present  commander. 

Subsequent  meetings  were  held,  the  organization  was  per- 
fected and  the  work  of  the  Camp  was  commenced.  A  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  petition  the  legislature  for  a 
charter,  and  in  it  the  life  work  of  the  Camp  is  so  plainly 
laid  down  that  I  will  read  it : 

"  Whereas,  an  association  of  Confederate  veterans  has 
been  organized  in  the  city  of  Richmond,  under  the  title  of 
R.  E.  Lee  Camp,  No.  1,  Confederate  Veterans,  the  object  of 
which  is  declared  in  the  by-laws  of  the  association  to  be 
to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  our  fallen  comrades  and  to 
minister  as  far  as  practicable  to  the  wants  of  those  who  were 
permanently  disabled  in  the  service;  to  preserve  and  main- 
tain that  sentiment  of  fraternity  born  of  the  hardships 
and  dangers  shared  in  the  march,  the  bivouac  and  on  the 
battlefield.  It  is  proposed  not  to  prolong  the  animosities 
engendered  by  the  war,  but  to  extend  to  our  late  adversa- 


ries  on  all  fitting  occasion  courtesies,  which  are  always 
proper  between  soldiers,  and  which  in  our  case  a  common 
citizenship  demands  at  our  hands. 

"  We  propose  to  avoid  anything  which  partakes  of  par- 
tisanship in  religion  and  politics,  but  at  the  same  time  we 
will  lend  our  aid  to  the  maintenance  of  law  and  the  pres- 
ervation of  order." 

Mr.  Commander,  I  challenge  any  man  living  to  say  that 
the  recitals  in  the  charter  have  not  been  carried  out  to  the 
letter.  The  fulfillment  of  that  promise  to  extend  to  our 
former  foes  that  courtesy  due  among  soldiers  to  each  other 
has  brought  together  in  pleasant  reunion  veteran  posts  of 
the  North,  who  in  accepting  our  invitations  and  visiting  us 
and  we  in  return  going  to  their  distant  homes,  has  done 
more  to  break  down  the  sectional  feeling  between  the 
North  and  South  and  make  us  one  people  in  fact  as  well  as 
in  name  than  all  other  influences  combined. 

The  founders  of  Lee  Camp  had  seen  the  associations  of 
the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  meet  in  this  city  for  thirteen 
years,  composed  of  soldiers  renowned  in  war  and  who  tes- 
tified in  glowing  terms  to  the  valor  and  fortitude  of  the 
men  who  had  done  so  much  to  win  for  them  the  stars  and 
wreaths  which  they  wore,  yet  not  one  had  raised  his  voice 
in  aid  of  the  old  and  maimed  Confederate  soldier. 

Lee  Camp,  the  members  of  which  were  for  the  most  part 
men  who  belonged  to  that  honored  class — the  private  sol- 
dier— had  undertaken  the  work  and  proposed  to  push  it 
to  its  completion. 

It  was  decided  to  hold  a  "  bazaar,"  and  calling  to  its 
aid  the  noble  women  of  Richmond,  who  are  ever  ready,  like 
ministering  angels,  to  help  in  the  noble  work  of  charity, 
the  work  was  begun. 

My  friends,  I  cannot  pass  this  point  in  our  history  without 
pausing  to  say  a  word  in  their  praise,  for  well  I  remember  the 
answer  of  these  noble  women  when  we  asked  them  to  help 
us  :  "  Help  you,  Lee  Camp !  Lead  and  we  will  follow.  Why, 
my   father  was  a  Confederate  soldier,  my  son  was  a  Con- 


10 

federate  soldier,  my  husband  was  a  Confederate  soldier, 
and  these  men  now  in  distress  were  their  comrades,  and  we 
will  do  our  part  for  their  sake." 

This  was  the  same  old  spirit  of  love  born  in  woman's 
heart  for  suffering  man.  It  was  the  same  love  that  carried 
her  into  the  hospitals,  and  many  a  comrade  now  before  me 
can  bear  testimony  to  the  fact  that  he  owes  his  life  to  her 
gentle  ministrations.  Among  the  many  who  came,  there 
was  one  at  the  head,  and  I  am  confident  that  no  pang  of 
jealousy  will  spring  in  a  sister's  heart  if  I  mention  her 
name.  With  wonderful  executive  ability,  indomitable 
energy,  a  sweet  disposition,  a  gentle  voice  that  many  a 
wounded  Confederate  soldier  has  cause  to  remember,  Mrs. 
Lewis  N.  Webb  organized  the  bazaar  and  success  was  as- 
sured.    From  this  source  $23,000  was  raised. 

It  was  determined  to  send  out  circulars  asking  aid  from 
the  friends  and  admirers  of  the  Confederate  soldiers  who, 
having  no  government  to  look  to,  were  dependent  on  the 
liberality  of  their  friends.  Then  was  presented  to  the 
world  a  sight  that  has  never  had  its  equal  in  the  history  of 
wars,  and  I  thank  God  it  was  left  for  American  soldiers. 

Phil  Kearney  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  stepped  to  the  front,  and, 
extending  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  said :  "  Lee  Camp, 
we  belong  to  that  grand  army  that  for  four  years  thundered 
at  the  gates  of  your  beautiful  city ;  time  and  again  you 
repulsed  us,  and  only  when  there  was  not  men  enough  left 
to  man  your  guns  did  you  fail  to  drive  us  back.  We  know 
the  material  you  are  made  of;  we  know  your  proud 
spirits  will  not  ask  us  for  aid;  but  we  have  come  in  that 
spirit  of  brotherly  love— for  are  we  not  all  Americans  at 
last? — and  all  have  done  so  much  to  make  American  valor 
illustrious,  we  will  help  you  to  build  your  soldiers'  home." 
And  help  us  they  did.  It  was  at  their  suggestion  and  with 
their  endorsement  that  the  circular  was  sent  to  the  G.  A.  R. 
posts.  The  example  set  by  Phil  Kearney  Post  was  fol- 
lowed by  others,  and  letters  of  fraternal  feeling,  enclosing 
substantial  aid,  came  from  the  North  and  West  until  $8,000 


it 

was  raised.  And,  sir,  there  comes  to  my  mind  the  name 
of  one  man  that  I  feel  justified  in  paying  tribute  to.  That 
man  was  Corporal  James  Tanner,  of  Brooklyn,  a  man  who 
by  the  misfortune  of  war  lost  both  legs,  but  what  he  lost 
in  legs  was  made  up  in  heart.  This  man  came  from  his 
home  to  this  city  and  opened  the  bazaar  with  a  speech  that 
most  of  you  remember. 

Then  came  a  grand  old  man,  tottering  under  the  weight 
of  years,  with  a  smile  of  charity  on  his  face,  and  said  : 
"  Lee  Camp,  I  watched  your  course  for  four  years ;  I  saw 
you  wage  an  unequal  contest;  I  saw  your  armies  go  down 
to  rise  no  more,  and  knowing  you  are  still  suffering  from 
the  effects  of  war,  I  want  to  do  my  share  out  of  my  abun- 
dance " ;  and  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Corcoran  handed  us  his  check 
for  five  thousand  dollars. 

The  example  set  by  this  great  and  good  man  was  fol- 
lowed by  others,  until  the  total  sum  collected  amounted  to 
fifty-two  thousand  dollars. 

Some  of  you  may  wish  to  know  how  your  Board  of 
Visitors  have  spent  the  money ;  if  so,  go  to  the  Soldiers' 
Home,  see  that  beautiful  spot,  with  its  home-like  cottages, 
with  its  happy  and  contented  veterans;  you  will  then  have 
all  the  answer  you  can  wish. 

Mr.  Commander,  I  cannot  better  illustrate  the  growth  of 
Lee  Camp  than  to  compare  it  to  an  old  and  familiar  saying 
that  each  of  us  learned  in  our  boyhood  days—"  Great  oaks 
from  little  acorns  grow."  The  acorn  was  planted  by  these 
seven  veterans;  they  watched  it  tenderly;  they  saw  it  put 
forth  its  tender  leaves,  and  they  have  lived  to  see  its  mag- 
nificent proportions. 

My  friends,  it  has  grown  until  now  seven  hundred  men 
constitute  its  massive  body ;  its  branches  spread  from  the 
Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  and  under  the  shade  of  its  beau- 
tiful foliage  one  hundred  and  thirty  old  veterans  find 
protection  and  a  home. 

As  Lee  Camp  grew  to  man's  estate,  that  desire,  born  of 
Divine  command,  to  increase,  multiply  and  populate  the 


12 

earth,  came  in  its  heart.     So  when  its  offspring  arrived  at 
age,  they  were  sent  on  their  mission  of  peace. 

The  first  son,  wandering  to  the  historic  fields  of  Frede 
ricksburg,  established  Camp  No.  2. 

The  second  son  marched  up  the  Valley  of  Virginia, 
every  foot  of  whose  soil  could  tell  a  tale  of  valor,  suffer- 
ing and  death,  until,  entering  the  town  of  Winchester, 
where  so  many  gallant  men  had  found  a  resting  place  be- 
fore, pitched  his  tent  and  Camp  No.  3  was  established. 

The  third  son,  crossing  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  as  the  sun  set 
in  the  west  over  the  beautiful  town  of  Charlestown,  West 
Virginia,  determined  to  accept  the  hospitable  invitation  of 
its  people,  and  Camp  No.  -1  was  established. 

The  fourth  son,  launching  his  little  boat  on  the  bosom  of 
the  historic  James,  gently  floated  down  the  stream,  passing 
the  banks  of  Drury's  Bluff,  and  remembering  with  pride 
the  oft-told  story  of  how  Lee  and  Tucker  with  their  sailor 
boys  and  a  few  old  guns  had  belched  forth  defiance  at  the 
famous  ironclads,  and  forced  them  to  retreat  under  the 
guns  of  Fortress  Monroe,  until  reaching  that  grand  harbor 
of  Norfolk  he  was  welcomed  to  land,  and  Camp  No.  5  was 
established. 

The  fifth  son,  seeking  a  warmer  clime,  fountj  his  way  to 
the  orange  groves  of  Florida,  and  in  the  city  of  Jackson- 
ville Camp  No.  6  was  established. 

The  sixth  son,  having  heard  his  father  tell  of  glories 
won  on  many  a  field  by  Hood  and  his  gallant  Texans, 
wandered  away  to  the  "  Lone  Star  State,"  and  in  the  city  of 
Austin  Camp  No.  7  was  established. 

The  seventh  and  last  son,  having  heard  of  the  wonders 
and  glories  of  the  western  world,  turned  his  face  to  the 
setting  sun,  and  on  the  golden  shore  of  California  found 
congenial  spirits  and  Camp  No.  8  was  established. 

Thus  you  see,  my  friends,  that  the  number  of  its  off- 
spring corresponds  in  number  with  the  seven  true  and 
brave  men  who  originated  R.  E.  Lee  Camp,  No.  1. 

Mr.  Commander,  do  you  wonder  at  its  growth?     Remem- 


13 

ber,  the  acorn  was  planted  in  the  soil  of  Virginia,  enriched 
with  the  blood  of  her  bravest  and  noblest  sons.  It  was 
the  soil  of  Virginia  that  produced  Stonewall  Jackson,  who, 
with  his  handful  of  foot  cavalry,  defeated  in  rapid  succes- 
sion four  large  and  well  equipped  armies,  and  forced  them 
from  his  native  State  to  seek  safety  north  of  the  Potomac; 
and  last,  sir,  it  was  the  soil  of  Virginia  that  produced  our 
greatest  chieftain,  Robert  E.  Lee,  in  whose  honor  we  are 
named. 

Of  its  present  condition,  much  can  be  said;  but  I  would 
only  be  saying  what  most  of  you  already  know.  I  could 
tell  you  of  its  many  deeds  of  charity ;  of  the  suffering  and 
distress  it  has  relieved  and  is  still  relieving;  but  I  prefer 
to  remind  you  that  now  is  the  time  for  work ;  now,  while 
the  light  lasts  and  health  and  strength  is  ours,  work  with 
all  our  heart,  that  when  we  turn,  as  all  of  us  must,  on  the 
downward  slope  of  life,  when  our  steps  .grow  slow  and  the 
silver  in  our  hair  tells  plainly  that  old  age  has  come  and 
we  can  no  longer  work,  let  us  feel  that  we  have  made 
good  use  of  our  time,  and  have  laid  aside  enough  to  keep 
ourselves  and  our  old  comrades  from  want. 

Mr.  Commander,  the  life  of  the  Soldiers'  Home  is  part 
and  parcel  of  our  lives,  and  the  same  care  must  be  taken  of 
its  affairs  that  we  take  of  our  own.  Who  can  tell,  of  those 
who  listen  to  me  to-night — who  now  with  health  and  plenty, 
and  has  not  given  his  old  comrade  a  thought  or  a  dollar — 
how  soon  he  may  find  himself  compelled  to  ask  permission 
to  enter  Lee  Camp  Home?  We  have  had  two  examples  of 
this  in  the  last  sixty  days — two  men  who  refused  to  join 
the  Camp;  they  did  not  then  need  it;  they  preferred  to  spend 
their  time  and  mony  some  other  way ;  but  sickness  came, 
then  want,  and  both  are  now  appealing  to  us  for  help. 

On  many  of  you  a  kind  Providence  has  bestowed  a  plenty 
of  this  world's  goods.  Will  you  in  the  day  of  your  pros- 
perity forget  the  old  comrade  of  twenty-three  years  ago  ? 
Who  before  me  can  say  that  he  does  not  owe  his  presence 


14 

here  tonight  to  some  old  comrade  who  seeks  admission 
to  the  Soldiers'  Home? 

Do  you  remember  the  day  your  brigade  was  hard  pressed, 
the  enemy  driving  you  back,  the  left  wing  gave  way  and 
in  a  moment  all  would  be  lost?  But  hold!  a  cheer  is 
heard;  an  officer  advances  to  the  front:  "  Hold  your  ground, 
boys,  another  brigade  is  coming,"  and  with  a  yell  that  only 
a  Confederate  knew  how  to  send  up,  they  came  to  your  re.- 
lief,  and  the  day  was  ours.  Can  you  say  that  the  man  who 
now  asks  in  his  old  age  for  support  is  not  the  man  who, 
when  you  lay  wounded  on  the  battlefield,  stopped  to  help 
you  and  with  hisl  ast  drop  of  water  moistened  your  parched 
lips?  Remember  all  this,  my  friends,  and  do  your  duty 
to  them  now  as  they  did  then  to  you. 

Comrades,  your  Board  of  Visitors  find  themselves  face 
to  face  with  a  difficult  problem.  Our  income  consists  of 
ten  thousand  dollars,  donated  by  the  State  of  Virginia, 
which  was  intended  to  support  eighty-three  men;  by  strict 
economy  and  the  products  of  our  farm  we  are  enabled  to 
support  one  hundred  and  thirty  men;  but  the  limit  of 
our  ability  is  reached,  and  without  further  aid  we  must 
close  the  doors  to  over  twenty  applicants,  with  records  ac- 
companying their  applications  of  which  any  man  might  be 
proud.  My  friends,  it  remains  for  you  to  say  whether  or 
not  the  home  has  reached  the  limits  of  its  usefulness? 

I  want  to  do  justice  to  the  State  of  Virginia.  When  the 
bill  extending  aid  to  the  Home  was  before  the  legislature  a 
member,  though  not  a  soldier,  said  he  did  not  think  Vir- 
ginia should  support  men  from  other  States ;  then  arose  an 
old  gray-haired  man,  who  said  :  "  Sir,  that  is  not  a  question 
for  debate;  these  men  fought  and  bled  on  Virginia  soil, 
and  so  long  as  we  are  able  they  shall  not  knock  in  vain  for 
help." 

I  regret  to  say  that  not  a  Southern  State  has  offered  to 
help  us,  though  we  have  men  now  in  the  home  from  nine 
States.  The  individual  donations  from  Southern  men  have 
amounted  to  but  little,  and  if  we  are  to  judge  the  future  by 


15 

the  past,  we  will  have  to  look  to  the  Camp  and  the  State  of 
Virginia  for  its  entire  support.  We  estimate  that  it  costs 
one  hundred  and  twenty  dollars  a  year  per  man,  and  there 
are  plenty  of  men  in  this  hall  to-night  who  can  afford  to 
contribute  that  amount  towards  so  good  a  cause. 

Five  gentlemen  have  built  memorial  cottages  at  the 
Home  at  an  average  cost  of  twelve  hundred  dollars  each. 
Four  of  them  are  citizens  of  Eichmond,  one  of  New  York. 
Why  cannot  others  do  the  same  ? 

Twelve  hundred  dollars  is  not  much  to  some  men,  par- 
ticularly those  who  staid  at  home  during  the  war  and  made 
their  fortunes.  The  ingratitude  of  republics  is  proverbial, 
but  misfortuue  often  binds  hearts  together.  Let  us  stand 
together  now  as  we  did  years  ago,  and  do  our  duty  now  as 
we  did  it  then,  and  we  can  go  on  with  the  good  work.  Let 
it  not  be  said  of  us  that  we  have  forgotten  our  old  com- 
rades in  their  distress,  but  rather  let  us  set  an  example  to 
future  generations  to  follow. 

Comrades,  keep  up  your  Soldiers'  Home.  Keep  your  old 
veterans  in  plenty  and  comfort.  Keep  them  as  the  re- 
minder of  tliat  dream  of  a  sentiment  that  binds  the  past 
with  the  present.  Keep  it  for  sweet  charity's  sake,  and  let 
the  recording  angel  write  your  name  high  in  the  Book  of 
Life  as  "one  who  loved  his  fellow  man." 


